Photos

Before They Were Stars

Celebs had to get their start somewhere! Find out what your favorite stars were doing before they got famous.

Before she was Barbz, Nicki Minaj served food at Red Lobster.

Photo: Katherine Tyler for iHeartRadio/ Shutterstock

When the Diddy wasn't quite so flush, he cleaned bathrooms at a Mexican restaurant.

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

Jadakiss used to deliver the news as a newspaper delivery boy!

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

Before becoming a rap star, Lil Wayne played the Tin Man in his middle school drama clubâs production of "The Wiz."

Photo: Getty Images/ Everett Collection

Before his music and acting career took off, Ice-T spent four years in the Army.

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

Before he showed off his rap game, Tupac took ballet and even had the role of Mouse King in the school play, "The Nutcracker."

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

At 11, Denzel Washington earned $11 a day sweeping hair at a barbershop & was also a camp counselor.

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

Fabolous spent his summers as a teen working at a nursery with kids.

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

He's a movie star now, but Chris Tucker once had it rough cleaning toilets.

Photo: Getty Images

B.o.B is a music artist now, but before that he was a sandwich artist at Subway.

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

Mariah Carey's husband once spent his days dishing out fast food. "My mother made me get a job at like, Wienerschnitzel," Cannon told MTV. He was reportedly fired for telling too many jokes to the drive-thru customers.

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

Before becoming a rapper Plies graduated with a degree in nursing.

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

Kerry Washington was a substitute teacher for NYC schools. Imagine having her as your sub?!

Photo: Getty Images

Jennifer Hudson flipped burgers before "American Idol" - at Burger King, to be precise. After mentioning the chain in her Oscar acceptance speech, Hudson was granted free Burger King for life.

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

Mike Jones used to be a phone assembly line operator!

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

David Banner was the President of the Student Government Association at Southern University.

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

Kanye West sold clothing at The Gap. He always did love fashion!

Photo: Getty Images

50 Cent competed in the Junior Olympics as an amateur boxer.

Photo: Getty Images

J. Cole was a bill collector & worked at an ice skating rink where he wore a kangaroo costume.

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

Prodigy was a Ballet dancer. He also knows how to tap dance.

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

Queen Latifah worked at Burger King just like Jennifer Hudson!

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

Bruno Mars was a Mall DJ and he even managed to break the record player.

Photo: Getty Images

Rick Ross was correctional officer... as if you couldn't tell.

Photo: Getty Images

Big Sean used to be a Christian rapper!

Photo: Getty Images/ Shutterstock

Janelle Monae worked at a cleaning service & was the youngest maid. All the women would ask her to sing while she cleaned, and most of them were ex-convicts.

Photo: Getty Images

Ice Cube was an architect-in-training, and studied at the Phoenix Institute of Technology.